West Nile virus found near Sacramento Zoo in Land Park. What’s being done to stop spread?
A dead bird tested positive for West Nile virus last week, the first in Sacramento County this year, officials announced Wednesday.
The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District reported Wednesday that an American crow collected May 31 tested positive for the virus. The bird was found near Riverside Boulevard and Sutterville Road in the Land Park neighborhood, just west of the Sacramento Zoo, according to the district.
Gary Goodman, the agency’s district manager, said in a statement that finding the first case each season is vital to locating and eliminating West Nile-positive mosquitoes. The discovery also gives officials a good idea “where human cases may develop later in the season,” he said.
“Late spring rains and the extremely hot temperatures for this time of the year could indicate a busy mosquito and West Nile virus season ahead,” Goodman said. “While this is the first evidence of the virus within the District’s service area; other counties throughout the state have already started to register activity.”
More testing, trapping needed
Luz Robles, a spokesperson for the district, said the agency is planning on trapping and testing mosquitoes within a mile radius of the affected bird’s location to determine if it is a West Nile hotspot.
Sacramento Zoo and UC Davis associate veterinarian Dr. Shannon Nodolf said the zoo does West Nile mitigation year-round, including setting mosquito traps and deterrents. The zoo also vaccinates animals that may be more susceptible to the disease, particularly birds and zebras, she said.
“West Nile is one of those things that kind of comes and goes all the time,” she said. “We don’t get big fat warnings ahead of time. We’re trying to keep it at utmost protection for those risks all year long, every year.”
Nodolf said the zoo works with vector control on closer monitoring once mosquitoes begin appearing in the area and on zoo property.
West Nile bird cases in California
As of Wednesday morning, the California Department of Public Health reported 17 additional positive cases of West Nile virus in dead birds this year — in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Diego, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. So far, that total has exceeded the number of birds found by this time a year ago (14) and is well above the 6.4-bird five-year average for detection. A total of 857 dead birds tested positive for the virus last year, mostly in the late summer months.
West Nile virus symptoms may include fever, nausea, headaches, and muscle aches, lasting from a few days to several weeks. While most people infected have no symptoms, severe complications such as meningitis, encephalitis, paralysis or even death can occur, particularly in those older than 60 years old or with compromised immune systems, health officials say.
No human cases have been detected so far this year, CDPH officials said. Last year, more than 400 people contracted the virus through mosquito bites.
Agency officials said there is no specific treatment or vaccine for West Nile virus, so preventative measures should be taken to minimize risk:
▪ Drain any stagnant water to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
▪ Dress in long sleeves and pants when outdoors. Dawn and dusk are when mosquitoes are most active.
▪ Defend against mosquitoes by using effective insect repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
▪ Make sure door and window screens are intact to prevent mosquitoes from entering homes.
The California Department of Public Health encourages residents to report dead birds by calling the department’s hotline at 877-968-2473 (877-WNV-BIRD).
